Optimization of source and bandwidth for new and existing patterning devices
First Claim
1. A method to improve a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
- computing, by a hardware computer system, a multi-variable cost function of a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of the lithographic process, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a bandwidth of a radiation source of the lithographic apparatus, or being a function of a variable that is a function of the bandwidth or that affects the bandwidth; and
reconfiguring, by the hardware computer system, one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables and re-computing the multi-variable cost function based on the adjusted one or more design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method to improve a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method including: computing a multi-variable cost function, the multi-variable cost function being a function a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of the lithographic process; and reconfiguring one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied; wherein a bandwidth of a radiation source of the lithographic apparatus is allowed to change during the reconfiguration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to improve a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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computing, by a hardware computer system, a multi-variable cost function of a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of the lithographic process, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a bandwidth of a radiation source of the lithographic apparatus, or being a function of a variable that is a function of the bandwidth or that affects the bandwidth; and reconfiguring, by the hardware computer system, one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables and re-computing the multi-variable cost function based on the adjusted one or more design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18)
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8. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions recorded thereon, the instructions, when executed by a computer system, configured to cause at least:
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computation of a multi-variable cost function of a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using the lithographic apparatus, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a bandwidth of a radiation source of a lithographic apparatus, or being a function of a variable that is a function of the bandwidth or that affects the bandwidth; and reconfiguration of one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables and re-computing the multi-variable cost function based on the adjusted one or more design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions recorded thereon, the instructions, when executed by a computer system, configured to cause at least:
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computation of a multi-variable cost function, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus; and reconfiguration of one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables and re-computing the multi-variable cost function based on the adjusted one or more design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied, wherein a bandwidth of a radiation source of the lithographic apparatus is allowed to change during the reconfiguration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 17)
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11. A method to improve a lithographic process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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computing, by a hardware computer system, a multi-variable cost function, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a plurality of design variables that represent characteristics of the lithographic process; and reconfiguring, by the hardware computer system, one or more of the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting one or more of the design variables and re-computing the multi-variable cost function based on the adjusted one or more design variables until a certain termination condition is satisfied, wherein a bandwidth of a radiation source of the lithographic apparatus is allowed to change during the reconfiguration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification